Webbie/Savage Life 2
Trill/Asylum
On Savage Life 2, with tracks like “2 Smooth” and
his smash hit “Independent,” Webbie seems to be
singing a more mature tune than his “Gimme Dat”
days. And on “I Know,” produced by Mannie Fresh
and featuring Young Dro, and “A Miracle” with Birdman and Rick Ross, Webbie proves he can stand tall
with the best of Southern rap artists. The album is
not all notable, with another Fresh beat that sounds
like tracks we’ve heard him produce before (“Y’all
Ain’t Makin’ No Money”) and “First Night” which
serves no propose as a final track. Nevertheless,
appearances from Lil Boosie, Letoya Luckett, Foxx
and the late Pimp C help Webbie release a solid follow-up album to 2005’s Savage Life.
— Randy Roper

Shawty Lo/Units In The
City/D4L/Asylum
The success of his hit single “Dey Know” has D4L
member Shawty Lo, arguably the hottest thing in
Atlanta over the last few months. But on his solo
debut album the Bankhead rapper is all swag, no
skills. Tracks like “Dey Know,” “Dunn Dunn,” and
“Foolish” are standouts but weak production on
“Let’s Get It” and “Feels Good To Be Here” and
“That’s Shawty Lo” make the album sound like
“Laffy Taffy” leftovers from the D4L album. L-O isn’t
the best rapper and his elementary flow gets to
be monotonous after 15-tracks, and without true
lyrical ability and lack of quality production, the
blunt rating for Units In The City comes in a little
L-O. — Randy Roper

S.L. Jones/C.O.L.O.R.S.
Grind Time Official

On C.O.L.O.R.S., Grind Time member S.L.
Jones does what most rappers coming
out under an established artist fail
to do; he stood on his own and released a solid album. This
album isn’t bombarded with Killer Mike verses. Instead, Jones
controls the show with his revolutionary gangster lyricism
and metaphors. Although his slow flow does drag along at times, guest appearances from the likes of Killer Mike, Chamillionaire, the Clipse, Trae, offer changes of
pace and standout production from beatmakers like Bdon and Smiff n Cash, give

Nephewblaq/Urban
Lifestyle/Loudmouf
Standout tracks are hard
to come by on Orlando
rapper Nephewblaq’s
album, as Blaq’s choppy
rap style makes 20-track
hard to digest. There
are a few tracks worth
listening to, including
“Judgment Day,” “Unemployed” with Durty and
Mardub, and the album’s
title track. Although
these tracks show Blaq’s
potential, songs like
“Gotta Be Jelly,” “Hey
Shawty” and “Supa
Freak,” among others,
are enough to justify
why he needs to take
it back to the drawing
board. — Randy Roper

Jim Jones/Harlem’s American
Gangster/Koch

First rule of trying to show someone
up: actually show them up. There
was no attempt to hide the fact that
Jim Jones’ Harlem’s American Gangster is Jimmy’s attempt
at mocking Jay-Z, complete with Dame Dash as a host.
Unfortunately for Jimmy, his 17-track effort falls short, with
only three tracks, one of which is the intro, offering the only saving moments of this
mixtape. If Jim Jones is going to take anything from Frank Lucas perhaps it should
be the lesson that it’s always wise to quit when you’re on top, or at least the closest
you can. - Rohit Loomba

Trap Starz Clik/Hood Depot/
Universal Republic

Something about this group and this
album just doesn’t seem right. They
dress like the prototypical block
dweller in Any Small Ghetto, U.S.A. Their production sounds
like it came out during the beginnings of the snap movement
in 2003-04. The lyrics are so mundane that you feel dumber
after listening to them. After adding all of this up, there is no way possible that
TSC is supposed to be taken seriously by anybody, including themselves. Everything
about them sounds exactly like what Outkast was alluding to with the fictional
PimpTrickGangstaClik or what The Boondocks ridicules with its Thugnificent character. Listening to this CD makes you wait for the day that TSC pops up on BET and says
“Sike! We was just playin!” — Maurice G. Garland

G-Unit & DJ Whoo Kid/Return
of the Body Snatchers

Blood Raw & DJ Smallz/The
Streets Love Blood Raw
DJ Smallz brings another installment of the Southern
Smoke series, teaming up with Florida native BloodRaw
this time around. BloodRaw makes sure he doesn’t
waste this opportunity to show off his talent and
prove that he really is “ballahalic like [he] plays for
the Magic.” The mixtape offers several tracks that are
worthy of repeated play with the top down and should
catch the ears of many who may not have heard that
much from one of CTE’s own. If you come across this
mixtape, definitely drop this one in your “Louis Bag”.
— Rohit Loomba

94 // OZONE MAG

When 50 remerges into the spotlight
fronting his G-Unit crew, the formula
is what is has always been. 50 carries
the squad. Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and
the crew are vastly overshadowed
with their latest mixtape effort, The
Return of the Body Snatchers. DJ Whoo
Kid hosts the mixtape laced with 50’s
baritone sing-songy hooks that appear often in the 16 track
submission. The most notable songs are the hard-hitting
“I’m ‘Bout That” and the street love record “Make Me Feel
Good.” While G-Unit is represented, the absence of Young Buck is noticeable. You
can ride out to this but it’s no classic. — Jared Anderson

Re Up Gang (Hosted by DJ
Drama)/ WE Got It For Cheap
Vol. 3

No question, We Got It For Cheap Vol. 3
is a street sweeper! DJ Drama captures
hardcore content with classic grimy records, allowing the
Re-Up Gang to continue to challenge their competition with
reminders that recording is considered their “second hustle” and that record sales
don’t reflect their “units sold.” From flowing over Jay-Z’s “Roc Boys” instrumental to
Shawty Lo’s “Dey Know,” the Re-Up Gang easily make the songs their own, but the
most impressive effort comes on Kanye West’s “Good Morning,” taking the listener
through the morning thoughts of a dealer. Drama’s mixtape is direct and to the
point. They’re going all out in the spirit of competition. — Jared Anderson

B.O.B./LRG Presents…
Hi My Name Is B.O.B.
B.O.B. is a breath of fresh
air for Georgia Hip Hop,
using his distinct personality and creativity to put
out music that’s different
from other ATL emcees.
The Hi! My Name is B.O.B.
mixtape showcases B.O.B’s
unique talent and brings
fans a sizeable dose of
new music. While this is
an overall entertaining
mixtape, one too many
skits and a few skippable
tracks did make their way
onto it. — Rohit Loomba